Device for mending rubber tires.



'Patented Dec. 5, I899. C. M. HANNIS.

DEVICE FOR MENDING RUBBER TIRES. (Application filed Eel). 9, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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CHARLES M. HANNIS, OF MIDDLETOVVN, CONNECTICUT.

DEVICE FOR MENDING RUBBER TIRES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 638,389, dated December5, 1899.

Application filed February 9, 1899. Serial No- 705,l42. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES M. HANNIS, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Middletown, in the countyof Middlesex and State ofConnecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement forMending Rubber Tires of Bicycles, of which the following is adescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein-Figure 1 shows a view of the device previous to its use for mending abicycle tire. Fig. 2 is a view on a smaller scale than that of Fig. 1, aview in cross-section of a tire mended by the use of this device, thedevice cutting the section centrally.

The object of the improvement is denoted by its title-to wit, theproduction of a device for mending a puncture in a rubber bicycletire.

The device consists of a shank a, bearing two thin Washers b and 0, flaton both sides. These parts are all integral with each other and they areof india-rubber. The washer c is formed on the end of the shank, and thewasher b is formed intermediate the ends of said shank just as far abovethe washer c as the thickness of the tire to be mended. Both washers arecomparatively thin, have square edges and fiat faces, and aresufficiently large in diameter to project some distance radially beyondthe walls of the puncture when the plug is in place. This prevents theplug from being forced in and out by the enlargement of the puncture orby a strong pressure either inward or outward. The main purpose of thetapering shank is for use when inserting the plug. In fact, it has beenfound to be very difficult to insert a plug of this character unless ithas a handle or shank of some description. The endmost washer is madeconsider ably larger than the other washer for a twofold purpose: First,as the strongest pressure comes from the inside of the tire the broadestsurface is usually needed there to resist it, especially when thepuncture is 1arge,and, second, should a puncture so small be receivedthat it is impossible to insert the large washer therethrough the plugmay be reversed and the shank and small washerbe forced through thepuncture.

In the ordinary use of the device the washer c is worked through thepuncture in the tire by holding the tapering shank ct, when it willvoluntarily flatten itself against the inside of the tire. At the sametime the washer b will be lying against the outside of the tire. Nowcement is applied to the under surface of the washer Z) and around theshank between the two washers,and this so freely that the cement worksthrough the puncture and upon the upper surface of the washer 0. Then byinflating the tire the washer c is made to bear firmly against theinside thereof. Next the shank is cut off flush with the upper surfaceof the washer Z) and pressure is applied to that upper surface, andmatters are kept in this condition until the cement is sufficientlyset,when the puncture will be found radically and substantially mended.Occasionally, however, when the puncture is very small the plug will beinverted from the position shown in Fig. 1 and the handle and smallwasher passed through the tire, as above described.

I claim as my improvement A plug for repairing tires, the samecomprising a tapering rubber shank, a washer integral therewith at theend of said shank, and another washer also integral with said shank andformed intermediate the ends thereof just as far above the bottom Washeras the thickness of the tire to be mended, both of said washers beinglarger than the shank and quite thin, with square edges and fiat faces,and the endmost washer being larger than the other, substantially as setforth.

CHARLES M. HANNIS.

Witnesses:

WILBUR A. SNow, J. TH. RoLLnRsTRoM.

